About

$46,199

pledged of $45,000 goal

726

backers

SOLAS BRINGS TOGETHER PAST AND PRESENT BAND MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A STUDIO ALBUM OF ALL NEW MUSIC AND SONGS!

Our first album cover

If anyone had told us in 1996 that we would still be making albums and touring the world in 2016, we would have smiled politely, thanked them, and thought to ourselves: not a chance! We came together in New York back then without much of a plan. We thought we’d do a few shows and maybe make an album. But here we are, 11 albums later and with too many miles traveled to count. It’s been an incredible experience, one for which we are forever grateful.

Reunion 2006

In 2006 we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a live concert filmed and recorded in Philadelphia. We called it ‘Reunion’ and it was a magical experience that brought together all the members of Solas, past and present, for one night. As we now look toward our 20th anniversary, we want to mark the occasion - but what to do? One common approach is to go through back catalog, compile a ‘best of,’ and release a compilation album showcasing a band’s work throughout the years. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this approach, it’s not how we would like to mark our 20th anniversary!

We would rather look to the future than to the past. So our plan, once again, is to gather together all the members of Solas, past and present, and record an album of all new material! Joining SEAMUS EGAN and WINIFRED HORAN in the studio will be KARAN CASEY, JOHN DOYLE, JOHN WILLIAMS, MICK McAULEY, DONAL CLANCY, DEIRDRE SCANLAN, EAMON McELHOLM, MAIREAD PHELAN, NIAMH VARIAN BARRY, NORIANA KENNEDY, MOIRA SMILEY, and JOHNNY CONNOLLY.

We’ve also had the good fortune to work with some truly amazing musicians who, over the years, have become dear friends and honorary members of the band. Folks like CHICO HUFF (bass), BEN WITTMAN (drums, percussion), JOHN ANTHONY (recording & mix engineer, drums, percussion), and TREVOR HUTCHINSON (bass) have all been part of the recording and touring Solas family and it would be impossible to embark on this project without them. We couldn’t be more excited at the thought of making music once more with all these fine folks!

THE PLAN

Recording will begin in Ireland at the end of May at the wonderful Grouse Lodge Studios. It’s a beautiful spot in Co. Westmeath and we’re looking forward to our four days recording there. After that, it’s back to Philadelphia where we’ll record at the famous Milk Boy Studios. The sessions here will be the first time that the original lineup of Solas will record together since our 1997 'Sunny Spells and Scattered Shower' album! We can’t wait to see what happens. Then, there will be one more recording session at the beginning of July to finish things up. After that, it’s onto mixing and mastering the album and then preparing for release.

YOUR SUPPORT

As you might well imagine, this is a large and costly project. Your contributions will go toward covering a multitude of expenses…..

1. Studio time to record, mix, and master the album

2. Salaries for musicians and crew

3. Travel to and accommodations at studio locations - airfares, car rentals, hotels, and more

4. Photography and graphic design for the album packaging

5. Album manufacturing

6. Marketing - hiring a PR company to promote the album's release, launching a new website, and more

REWARDS

We have collection of unique rewards to give to you for your contribution to our project. You've got your pick from a signed, pre-release copy of the album, a-one-of-a-kind sculpture made by Seamus’s father out of fiddle bows Win has played and destroyed at concerts,

A bundle of Win's dead bows!

Skype lessons with Seamus or Win, and even recording with Solas! You can read a detailed description of all the rewards right here on this page.

VERY SPECIAL REWARDS - FIRST 48 HRS ONLY!

If you contribute any amount in the first 48 hours of the campaign (before noon ET on Wednesday, April 22), you will receive BOTH of these rewards in addition to any rewards you pledge for. They will only be available during this short window!

1. THE ULTIMATE SOLAS PLAYLIST PODCAST
- Win and Seamus choose their 10 favorite Solas tracks and tell the stories behind how
they came to record them and why they are their favorites.

2. YOUR NAME IN THE CD LINER NOTES

THANK YOU!

The one constant throughout the years has been the remarkable support that you, our fans, have shown us. Without you, we would certainly not be here today. Your encouragement has carried us through and inspired us to always do our best. ALL THESE YEARS is a celebration of music and friendship 20 years in the making.
It has always been about the music for us and we are thrilled to be able to bring you this collection of new songs and tunes from the heart. This is the reason we are still at it "all these years" later......
Join us and together we will make this happen!

Risks and challenges

Like every project, this one has its challenges: for one, we've had to coordinate the many schedules of everyone taking part. While we've found and booked times that work, it's possible that someone would get sick or a flight would get cancelled. In that case, we'll have to get creative with finding a new time and place to make up a session ASAP so as not to get behind.

There's a lot to get done, too, and it's possible that we will run into delays in the production phase of the album, whether with graphic design, CD manufacturing, or shipping. We've brought a manager onto our team to help make sure these logistics go smoothly and to respond quickly to any obstacles that arise.

We will keep in touch throughout the process so you see how things are moving along, and if you have questions about this campaign or our plan to make the album, just ask!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

FOR THE MEMORIES: Get a look inside the reunion of the original Solas line-up in the studio as they record new songs and tunes for the first time since 1997. Join Seamus, Win, John, Karan, and John for this exciting look behind the scenes in video form + SHOW AND TELL level

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

CALL AND ANSWER, TAKE TWO: Win and Seamus will record your voicemail for you. Let us know your name, we'll send you an audio file you can use as your outgoing voicemail message + FOR THE MEMORIES level

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

COLLECTOR: You get a grab bag of ten mixed items: signed CDs from the artists recording on this project plus other special memorabilia - vinyl, merch items, hard-to-find back catalog, and more + FOR THE MEMORIES level

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

COLLECTOR, TAKE TWO: You get a grab bag of ten mixed items: signed CDs from the artists recording on this project plus other special memorabilia - vinyl, merch items, hard-to-find back catalog, and more + FOR THE MEMORIES level

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

DINNER DATE, TAKE TWO: You and a friend get tickets to any Solas headlining show on the 2016 record release tour and join the band for dinner before the show - bring your appetite! + FOR THE MEMORIES level

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

SOLAS SANTA: Join Solas for a special evening at A Christmas Celtic Sojourn 2015: the band will take you and a friend out to dinner, show you around backstage where you can meet the whole cast, pick a pair of premium seats for you to enjoy the performance, and put you up at a nearby hotel for the evening. Make a trip of it and join us for the holidays in Boston! + FOR THE MEMORIES level

Package does not include transportation and scheduling is subject to mutual availability.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

LYRICAL: You’ll get 4 original handwritten lyric sheets from Solas’ SHAMROCK CITY. Signed by the band, it’s a one of a kind reward and little bit of the rich history of Butte, Montana + FOR THE MEMORIES level

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: The current or original lineup of Solas will play a house concert for you and up to 50 friends. Meet and mingle with the band, hear their music up close, throw an unforgettable party + SUPER FAN level